Class blog for Anth 249: Evolution and human disease. We will be responding to class readings and engaging with the wider network of blogs and online content on evolutionary medicine. We might also make up some fun projects along the way.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Researcher: Obesity in African American Women

African American women have the highest rate of obesity than any group of Americans, in which, 4 out of 5 African American women have a body mass index above 25%. According to a study in Atlanta, obesity is a cultural challenge as it is an individual one. A few of the cultural challenges consist of "soul food" eating. Soul food comes from a tradition of southern cooking in the south. Most of these southern dishes consist of a lot of sugar, salt, and grease. In addition, the individual challenge of African American women comes from not wanting to exercise due to the fact it will mess up their expensive hair styles. African American women are also unmoved by the growing obesity epidemic and serious health dangers, due to the fact that being "thick" or build like a "brick house" are embraced positively. This article titled: "Obesity Rates Highest Among African American Women," can be found at atlantablackstar.com/2012/12/10/obesity-rates-highest-among-african-american-women/ Another study at Boston University stated that out of 33,298 African American women, 58% had been maltreated. Researchers have correlated obesity with severe sexual or physical childhood abuse. The results were associated with depression, smoking, and being overweight in adulthood. Consequently, African American women are obese due to poverty, lack of education, psychological, and social factors. As a result, African American women are emotionally eating as a way to cope with life stresses. This article titled: "Obesity in Black Women Linked to Childhood Abuse," can be found at thegrio.com/2012/07/06/study-obesity-in-black-women-linked-to-childhood-abuse/This is very disturbing and devastating. I do not know what the future will hold for African American women or the race as a whole?